CatholicismWhen people refer to Catholics today, they often mean Roman Catholics. But, there are many other types of Catholics. Some are associated with cultural groups like Byzantine Catholics or Polish National Catholics while others such as Old Catholics span all cultural groups.While some groups are in union with Rome, others have been independently governed by their own bishops, in the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox church, for well over 200 years.
The White Robed Benedictine Network is a Catholic community outside the institutional church, dedicated to making the world a more compassionate place. Guided by its own Bishop/Abbott, it celebrates the same sacraments and follows the spirit of reform initiated in Vatican Council II. Uniformity of externals does not equate with the unity called for by Christ.During much of the first eleven hundred years after Jesus, there was only one church that developed different traditions. Everything from the way the Mass and sacraments were celebrated to the date of Easter and celibacy were interpreted differently.
